GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 711429
Unable to set the physical keyboard LED to show an alternative layout
Last modified: 2013-11-06 17:09:03 UTC
****************** HOW TO REPRODUCE ****************** - Go to "system configuration / keyboard", or "system configuration / text input". ******************** EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR ******************** - To be able to set the physical keyboard LED to show an alternative layout: "Caps Lock", "Num Lock" or "Scroll Lock". There was an option in Ubuntu 12.04 (GNOME 3.4.2). **************** REAL BEHAVIOUR **************** - Not to be able to configure the LED behaviour. - The problem with this is many people tend to look at the keyboard while typing, and it's somehow exhausting for them having to look at the keyboard indicator in the screen every time they want to check in which keyboard layout they at in that moment. In Ubuntu 13.10 (GNOME 3.6.3) I can't set LED from gnome-control-center. Please bring this options back to the gnome-control-center. They are very useful. IMHO Gnome-tweak-tool is not right place for them.
As mentioned in bug 711426: GNOME 3.6 is a year old. You'd best see about using GNOME 3.10 (available in Ubuntu GNOME I hear) or file a bug with your distribution.
I installed latest GNOME 3.10 from Ubuntu ppa. The problem exists in it too. So I reopen a bug. IMHO: GNOME is not Mac OS X with its stupidity/simplicty design. What do you think? Your users are not fools and idiots. Users may want to set "Use keyboard LED to show alternative layout" option from not-far-hidden place. Gnome-tweak-tool is not right place for it, I repeat. Some users use for example Scroll Lock to indicate alternative layout. With GNOME 3.10 it is impossible to do from default installed GUI. Is it clear for you?
Yes, it's also pretty clear we don't want it in the main UI.
And what your (not Cinnamon and MATE) users should do?
Install gnome-tweak-tool? I think it's pretty clear that this isn't an oft-used setting, far from it (despite what you might think).
OK, I understood. Thank you.